Michigan State football: Ranking head coaching candidates after Week 6

Michigan State football: Power ranking head coaching candidates after Week 6

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - SEPTEMBER 1: Head coach Lance Leipold of the Kansas Jayhawks runs out the the field with his team prior to a game against the Missouri State Bears at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium on September 1, 2023 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

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October 7, 2023; Berkeley, California, USA; Oregon State Beavers head coach Jonathan Smith (right) high-fives running back Damien Martinez (6) after a Beavers touchdown during the second quarter against the California Golden Bears at California Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Jonathan Smith moves down a single spot this week despite his Beavers beating Cal on the road and dropping 52 points in the process and that’s because his defense didn’t come to play.

Plus, I’m not 100 percent sold on the notion that Smith would leave his alma mater to coach across the country at Michigan State. A lot of coaches make it their goal to lead their alma mater to success and Smith is doing just that with a 5-1 record and No. 15 ranking nationally.

Since that loss to Jake Dickert and Washington State in Week 4, Smith has led the Beavers back to two straight Pac-12 wins, beating two-time reigning champ Utah 21-7 and then winning at Cal 52-40. The offense perked up a little against the Beavers after that defensive showdown against the Utes which was nice to see.

Smith has gotten DJ Uiagalelei back on track after that forgettable Washington State performnace, throwing for 479 yards and six touchdowns with one pick over the last two games.

While he’d be an intriguing hire, I’m not entirely sure Smith is realistic.

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